Scientists take evolution’s temperature. Researchers say higher temperatures near the equator increase the metabolisms of the inhabitants, fueling genetic changes that lead to the creation of new species. [News Source]

Fear of CO2 regime helps spur US coal rush. U.S. power companies are rushing to build coal-fired plants, in part because they are hoping to get them on the books ahead of potential U.S. regulations on greenhouse gases. [News Source]

US forecaster sees 17 storms, 9 hurricanes in ‘06. A noted US storm forecaster predicted on Wednesday the Atlantic season will see nine hurricanes and said there was an 82-percent chance the US coast would be hit by a big one, far above average but not as busy as last year's record-breaker. [News Source]

Exxon Mobil meeting draws protesters. Shareholders of Exxon Mobil Corp. gathered Wednesday for the oil company's annual meeting while demonstrators wearing oil drums protested that the company is helping retard action against global warming. [News Source]

Activists win symbolic victory at Exxon meeting. A majority of Exxon Mobil Corp. investors voted in favor of a proposal opposed by the oil company, as fury over fat CEO compensation helped give activists their first such victory in Exxon's history. [News Source]

Rice research in next 10 years to focus on global warming, drought (AFP via Yahoo! News) Overcoming climate change and drought will be the main focus of efforts to boost rice yields in the next 10 years, the International Rice Research Institute said. [News Source]

Temperature rising. For many, the next debate in the climate-change debate is not why the planet is warming, or if we can stop it. It is this: How do we live with it? [News Source]

Insurers may cash in on climate change. Climate change isn't just a crisis. It's a business opportunity--at least in the view of insurance industry leaders, who are mapping out a strategy that could force the rest of the economy to grapple with global warming as never before. [News Source]

Global warming: What you can do about it (Lexington Herald-Leader) How can anybody make a difference in the battle with global warming? Here's a long-distance Q&A (I was in Kentucky, he was in Australia) with Tim Flannery, author of The Weather Makers: How Man Is Changing the Climate and What It Means for Life on Earth, our new Herald Readers Book Club pick. [News Source]

Rice research in next 10 years to focus on global warming, drought (AFP via Yahoo! News) Overcoming climate change and drought will be the main focus of efforts to boost rice yields in the next 10 years, the International Rice Research Institute said. [News Source]